Tag Archive for mental

Mental Weight Loss

Rodney Agan / September 17, 2012 / No comments

We are all on mental overload.  We carry smart phones that work for us, but it takes work to get them to work.  Technology is promoted to make us smarter, yet it dumbs us down.  We are all connected to events around the world instantaneously.  Generations that preceded us heard the local news and not much else.  Most of their mental capacity was focused on their faith, family, friends, and work.

Today, we are on mental overload and it is causing people to have mental breakdowns.  We have loaded our minds to capacity. As a result, we cannot sleep soundly or think rationally.  We need to go on a “Mental Weight-Loss Program”.  I would like to share some ways we can accomplish this kind of weight loss.

1-    Cut back on social media. 

There is no need to know the status of every friend on Facebook in “real time”.  Emails and voice mails can wait.  Untie the invisible tether from your phone and give your mind a break.

2-    Don’t feel the need to know everything.

Because of technology we can know everything about everybody around world at the touch of a button.  News travels around the world at almost the speed of thought.  Back away now and then and give your mind a break.

3-    De-clutter the junk.

Not only is good information abundant, so is bad information. Don’t waste your mental capacity with non-essential information.  It just takes up valuable space.

4-    Give up trying to please everyone.

How much time do you spend worrying or contemplating how to do things for other people?  Trying to please everyone will leave you frustrated and with feelings of inadequacy.

5-    Let go of past failures.

If it is in the past, it is behind you.  If there is something you can do about it, do it.  If not, let it go.  Don’t waste mental space beating yourself up or tearing yourself down.  Let it go.

6-    Exercise your right to forgive.

Forgiveness is your right.  When you don’t forgive someone, it is allowing them to live “rent free” in your mind.  Don’t give away this kind of valuable space to someone.  Forgive and move on.  You will be glad you did.

7-    Take an occasional mental “sabbatical”.

The Bible teaches us to take a rest every seven days.  That is good advice for your mind.  Occasionally, find a place to “dis-connect”.  Turn off the television, computer, phone, and radio.  Allow your mind to “think” on its own.  The renewing of your mind will help it rejuvenate.

What are other ways to have “mental weight loss”?

Category: Communication, Personal Development, Stress / Tags: , , , , ,

When the HEAT is On

Rodney Agan / July 14, 2012 / No comments

Recently the temperature in Atlanta was 110 degrees. We set records on multiple days.  When it gets that hot it changes people’s behavior and mindset.  Things begin to happen like: tempers flaring, people having heat strokes, equipment overheating, and electricity overloading, to name a few.

How about when the heat or pressure is on in your life? What happens then? How do you handle it? What is going on?  Many are under severe pressure mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, or all four. Some things that cause stress are: major life changes, financial problems, work, relationships, children and family, or a busy schedule.

My mom and grandmother used to take vegetables out of a garden and put them in a pressure cooker to seal them in jars.  That pressure cooker was a serious piece of equipment.  A number of jars would be placed in it.  The heat was turned up and over a period of time it would seal the jars inside.  When the pressure became more than the cooker was supposed to handle, a little valve on top would open up and whistle loudly.  While it might scare you, it was actually releasing pressure from the inside so the thing would not blow up.

When the pressure is on in your life, you need to recognize it so you can keep it from blowing up on you. It affects you and those around you.

Pressure (H.E.A.T) will affect you’re:

H-       HEALTH       – I am not a medical doctor but we have all experienced what stress can do to you physically.  It produces high blood pressure, headaches, sleeplessness, and ulcers, to name a few.  You reduce these things when you learn how to “release” the pressure.  You might not be able to change the circumstances, but you can keep them from changing you.  Prayer, exercise, reading, hobbies, and time away are just some of the things that will help you.

E-       EGO   – I realize that too much ego can be a bad thing, but I might add that no ego is a really bad thing.  By ego I am referring to your feelings of self-worth and a proper amount of pride.  When the pressure becomes overwhelming you tend to blame yourself and feel that the problem is all you.  If it is, correct it.  If it is not, you need to get a proper perspective.  You are somebody.  You are a creation of God. You have a lot to offer and you should not hide it any longer.  Hold your head high and walk humbly.

A-     ATTITUDE     – When the heat is on, it always affects your attitude.  You become cynical, critical, combative, defensive, or depressed.  You don’t know why you are mad all the time.  Emotionally, it may bring you to tears. Since your emotions are so raw, the smallest things agitate you.  You don’t know why, and you don’t how to stop it.  You feel that your life is spiraling out of control.  This is when you need to seek counseling, coaching, or someone who will hold you accountable.

T-       TRUST         – You feel that the world is to blame and everyone is out to get you.  You can’t trust anyone, even those closest to you. You think you are the only one with problems. NEWS FLASH: everyone has problems and the world does not revolve around you. Everyone has pressure.  Yours may be different, but it is yours to endure or enjoy. If you are going to “go” through it, why not “grow” through it?

When the heat is on, look for a release valve. What are your thoughts?

Category: Personal Development, Stress / Tags: , , , , , ,